KINGS BEACH, Calif. — The transfer of ownership for a large parcel on land at North Lake Tahoe slated for a long-awaited trail construction is nearing completion after more than a year of negotiations.The California Tahoe Conservancy is the last entity to approve the transfer agreement of the 85-acre Firestone property from the North Tahoe Public Utility District to Placer County.

It goes on to state the county will assume the NTPUD’s planning, permitting, construction, operation and maintenance for the trail and the larger North Tahoe Bike Trail, which will extend from Dollar Hill near Tahoe City to the North Tahoe Regional Park in Tahoe Vista.

Meanwhile, NTPUD residents and ratepayers will have access to this recreational amenity at no cost them or the district.Last month, the NTPUD board of directors voted 4-0 to OK the transfer agreement, said Pam Emmerich, district technology and public information administrator. Director Tim Ferrell was absent.

Then on Nov. 17, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the same agreement, as part of its consent agenda.The item is anticipated to go before the CTC board next week at its 9 a.m. Dec. 18 meeting in the Lahontan Annex, 971 Silver Dollar Ave., South Lake Tahoe.

The CTC board needs to approve the transfer, since the state agency in 1988 awarded a nearly $1.19 million grant to the NTPUD that allowed the district to purchase the property along with other lands for recreation purposes.If approved, the transfer will take effect once the county records it, which is anticipated by the end of the year, according to the NTPUD.

When Placer County initially requested taking over ownership of the property in 2014, it was met with concerns from the public regarding other potential projects the county may have for the property and associated impacts.Among the transfer agreement terms, the county will conduct a public process for the property regarding any anticipated change in land use beyond construction and operation of the multi-use trail.

In addition, any land use change will be subject to environmental review and requirements imposed by the California Environmental Quality Act, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the county.​The Dollar Creek Shared Use Trail, which will help close a trail network gap along the North Shore, is expected to break ground in 2016.